According to the 2007 estimates, 230,000 persons are living with HIV in the Caribbean. With an estimated adult prevalence of 1.1%, 20,000 new infections, and 14,000 deaths due to AIDS in that year, the Caribbean remains the second highest affected region in the world.

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, PAHO/WHO has provided technical support to the Americas to respond to the epidemic. In 2007, PHCO was given the mandate to rationalize, coordinate and manage the delivery of PAHO technical cooperation in HIV/STI in the broader Caribbean.